Extension key chain



July 28, 1942. N. N. oKUN 2,291,089

EXTENSION'KEY CHAIN Filed May 5, 1939 y INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented July 28,

` UNITED STATES PATE NT ,OFFICE EXTE'NS am, i Nathaniel N. Okun, Bronx,N.v Y. Application May 5, 1939, Serial No. 272,030

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-3) This invention relates to a key chain of adifferent arrangement than that shown in my copending application, `nowPatent No. 2,159,223, dated May 23, 1939, and has for one of its objectsto provide a key chain, the effective length of which may be extended.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a key chain which willenable proper length to be had whether it be worn by a tall person or ashort person.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key chain having two ormore sections which will extend one along the other and will permit arelative adjustment to change the elective length of the key chain. g

Another object of the invention is to provide a key chain having meansfor providing a simple manner for adjusting the length such as bypulling with a suitable force upon one length of the key chain andsuitably holding another part thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide two separate sections ofthe key chain to take up the length thereof and an adiustment of thosesections for varying the effective length of the chain.

Another object of the invention is to provide two units, each of whichwill be fixed to one section of a key chain while it is slidable alonganother section of the key chain.

A further object of the invention is to provide in such a unit anarrangement whereby the slid- Fig.'2 is a. sectional view of a greatlyenlarged v scale of the units whereby the adjustment of the ilexibleconnection may be accomplished;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one unit showing the jaws in full and theparts in .position to receive the cover plate;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the plete; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the upper end portion of thedevice as connected in a device comr diiierentvmanner from that shown inFig. 1 to a belt shown fragmentally.

In the use of key chains It frequently occurs that the chain iseithertoo 'long or too short.

depending upon whether a tall or short person uses the same; also, it isoften desirable to have a longer or shorter chain, depending upondifferent objects which are to-be unlocked withthe keys upon the keyholder which is attached-to the chain. For instance, some persons maycare to have a chain sulciently long to enable keys to be attached .bythe chain and still extend to the dash of an automobile for the ignitionthereof and after such use to again shorten thechain;

and in order that this may be provided, I have formed two sections ofchain which extend one along the other and which may be relativelyadjusted by reason of a friction member on the end of one whichvispermanently attached to the other whereby ane'ective adjustment of thelength of the chain maybe provided; and the following is a more`detailed deseriptionyof the present embodiment of lthis invention,illustrating the preferred means by which these `advantageous resultsmay be accomplished:

With referencetofthe drawing, I have illus trated an article holdingelement IIJ, here shown asa key ring or holder for keys, with a key IIsecured in positionthereon. .This element may be any desired shape orcharacter yfor holding some sort of an article whichis to be used in anyof various ways. Anelement I2 is shown as of a type to attach to thegarment oi the wearer, such for instance, as to the edge of thetrousers, through a belt -loop or over the edge oi the belt, and I haveillustrated this element I2 as in the form of a clip having a spring jawI3 of some desired form. The particular construction of -this element,however, does not enter into the invention.

These elements Ill and I2 are connected together by some flexibleconnection which I designate generally I 4 and which may consist of achain, cord or similar forms of material. I have shown this flexibleconnection in this specific illustration as comprising two sections, onesection being designated I5 and the other section being designated I6,each section being in the form of a chain. 'I'hese sections are arrangedso that one will extend along or overlap the other, and I accomplishthis by the use of two units designated generally I1 and I8.

These units are substantially identical and each is provided withfriction jaws or glides I9 and 20, which glides are mounted within acasing 2|. 'I'he glide 20 being fixed while the glide I9 is forcedtoward the glide 20 by a compression spring 22. A cover 23 servestacomplete the cna heid ure parte in their relative nodtion. Openings Iland Il are provided through the unit for the reception of one oftheflexible sections which as'it passes through the unit has the pressureof the glides Il and 2l upon it from opposite sides, the pressure beingsuiiicient to hold the unit in an adjusted position on the ilexiblemember when in normal untensioned oondition, but which'when' suiiicientpull is provided will cause the unit to slide along the section. Theunit also provides some convenient means for the attachment ofthe end orend portionoi one of the flexible members as at II to the unit, thisbeing provided in the illustration here shown by means of an openingIIsmaller in onewdi mension than the link which it receives, one linkbeing placed in Iedgevvise through the` slot in the unit while the nextlink willengagethe edge of the slot to prevent escape therethrough, theend being held in position by the cover. Any convenient means ofattachment .may be provided, however. Y

The units are connected as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, bythe end Il ofthe chain section II being secured to the unit I'I and passing slidablythrough the channei'provided in the unit Il whilev the chain recticn nhas its end. secured vu 'the unit Il and passes slidably through the'unit Il so as to be frictionally` gripped thereby. With one end oi' theflexible member, such as thatV whichis attached to the garment, anchoredand the umts in the relative position shown in Fig. l, when a pull isexerted upon the-key holder away from the anchored element I2. and thispull is sumcient. the unit IIwill be caused toslide along the section Iland theunit II will likewise slide along the section Il so that theunits Il and Il will be brought closer together, their limit being whenthey are in contact and when such limit is reached the ilexibleconnection between the elements Il and I2 willbe at its maximumlength.'v If it is desired to contract. the connection bef tween theelements it is merely necessary to grasp each of the units I1 andV Iland movethem in opposite directions, suincient i'orce -being applied tocause the friction glides to slide along nect the section Il ot thechain to some garment attaching element such as I! as this chain ma!beloopedaroimdabeltllasshowninl'iawith' l. A device of the' typedescribed comprising a s pair of flexible members having portionsdisposed in overlapping relation, a pair of units, one unit beingrelatively fixed to each member and containing within itfriction-applying glides between which the other flexible member extendsto be slidable therealongio dispose the members in varying amounts ofoverlappingirelaticnship, an article holding element secured to one ofsaid members beyond said overlapping portions and means also beyond saidoverlapping portions for securing the other iiexible member tothewearving apparel.

2. A device cf the' type described comprising an article holdingelement, an element for attachment to a part oi'wearing apparel, a pairof nexible memberafone connected to one of said elements and the otherconnected to the other of said elements, and extending one along anotherfora portion 'of their length when the device is in contracted position,a pair of units each containing withinit friction ,applyingI slides,none unit being slidable along one memberand connected lthe other memberand the other unit being slidable along the other member and connectedto the ilrst said member, said glides perthe sections in the oppositedirection. the limit reached being that when the umts vengage either theelement Il or a portion connected to the element I0 In someinstances. itis not necessary t0 con` mitting a pull of a suiiicient amount toovercome the friction applied and a sliding of both units. each alongthe member to which it is -slidably connected. with an elongationoi the'flexible connection between said elements4 and a diminishing theoverlapping relation of the iiexible members.r Y

Mmmm N. om.

